Niigata (city)

Niigata
新潟市
Niigata City
From top left: Niigata skylines from Toki Messe, Bandai Bridge, Former Niigata Customs House, Minatopia, Niigata Prefectural Government Memorial Hall, Furumachi area, Bandai City
Location of Niigata in Niigata Prefecture
Niigata
 
Coordinates: 37°54′58″N 139°2′11″E / 37.91611°N 139.03639°E / 37.91611; 139.03639
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
City StatusApril 1, 1889 city incorporation )
Government
  MayorYaichi Nakahara (from November, 2018)
Area
726.45 km2 (280.48 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
797,591
  Density1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
  Metro
(2015)
1,060,013 (17th)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number025-243-4894
Address1-602-1 Gakkōchō-dōri, Chūō-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken 951-8550
ClimateCfa
Websitecity.niigata.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdSwan
FlowerTulip
TreeWillow
Niigata
"Niigata" in kanji
Japanese name
Kanji新潟
Transcriptions
RomanizationNiigata

Niigata (新潟市, Niigata-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [niː.ɡa.ta, -taꜜ.ɕi, niː.ŋa-]) is a city located in the northern part of Niigata Prefecture (Kaetsu area). It is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, and one of the cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, located in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the most populous city on the west coast of Honshu, and the second populous city in Chūbu region after Nagoya. It faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island. As of 1 September 2022, the city had an estimated population of 779,049, and a population density of 1,072 persons per km2. The total area is 726.45 square kilometres (280.48 sq mi). Greater Niigata, the Niigata Metropolitan Employment Area, has a GDP of US$43.3 billion as of 2010.

It is the only government-designated city on the west coast of Honshu. It has the greatest habitable area of cities in Japan (list of Japanese cities by area). It is designated as a reform base for the large scale agriculture under (National Strategic Special Zones of Japan) initiatives.